Latch mechanism for sliding door



July 31, 1962 R. A, MAROTTO ETAL 3,046,776

LATCH MECHANISM FOR SLIDING DOOR Filed March 23. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l E INVENTORS I I ROBERT AMAROTTO HOLLIS 1.. DEV/NES F5 47 BY 86 8? 150" Wall 1 10! R. A. MAROTTO ETAL 3,046,776

LATCH MECHANISM FOR SLIDING DOOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 sfls R 5 0 N TR/ mm mA NH u a m RH 1 2, mail wmx July 31, 1962 Filed March 23, 1959 July 31, 1962 R. A. MAROTTO ETAL 3,046,776

LATCH MECHANISM FOR SLIDING DOOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 23. 1959 INVENTORS ROBERT A. MAROTTO HOLLIS L. DEV/IVES BY 1962 R. A. MAROTTO ETAL 3,046,776

LATCH MECHANISM FOR SLIDING DOOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 23 1959 0 WW W Jilly 1952 R. A. MAROTTO ETAL 3,046,776

LATCH MECHANISM FOR SLIDING DOOR Filed March 23. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 108 5 I0 s I09 I I l2 5' Y /32 /3o I35 I ///O l0? INVENTORS ROBERT A. MAROLTTO HOLLIS L. DEV/IVES 6 77 +wml United States Patent 3,046,776 LATCH MECHANISM FOR SEEING DGUR Robert A. Marotto, Redwood City, and Hollis L. De Vines, San Mateo, Calif., assignors to Schlage Lock Company, a corporation Filed Mar. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 801,137 Claims. (ill. 70-97) This invention relates to a latch mechanism and more particularly to a latch and locking means adapted for usev with sliding panels or doors.

Prior art latch mechanisms for sliding doors have various disadvantages impairing their usefulness. One such disadvantage is that they are not reversible, that is, they do not lend themselves to use with both right and left-hand doors without modification.

Another disadvantage of prior art sliding doors is their lack of security in that they are easily jimmied, or the door, because it is a sliding door and therefore'usually subject to vertical movement, may be raised up relative to the keeper on the jamb to unlatch the same.

Present day sliding door latches are also usually complicated and expensive to make; such complexity generally coming about from an attempt to improve their security. Such complexities in the latching mechanism have also come about through attempts to prevent jamming of, or injury to, the latch mechanism when the door is inadvertently moved toward a closed position with the latch in locked position.

The main object of the present invention is therefore the provision of an improved latch mechanism :for sliding doors which overcomes most of the disadvanta es of prior art latches of like nature.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sliding door latch mechanism that is completely reversible and usable on both right and left-hand doors without extensive modification.

Still another object of the invention isthe provision of a sliding door latch that is constructed from relatively inexpensive stamped parts and the number of which'parts is relatively small. In this connection it will be seen that the latch of the present invention lends itself to fabrication through the use of duplicated identical parts thus considerably reducing the cost of dies and forming operations.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a sliding door latch in which the latch element is entirely contained within the confines of the door at all times thus considerably reducing the likelihood of injury to persons using the door, or injury to clothing which may otherwise become caught on the latch element.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a panic proo or, at least, semi panic proof sliding door latch, which, when in a locked position, may be readily opened by an almost autbmatic'movement of the person using the door to get out of a locked room.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sliding door latching mechanism which lends itself to use with doors of different thickness and also lends itself to use with pocket doors, that is, the type of sliding door in which the latch mechanism and door pull are substantially entirely contained within the confines of the door itself.

Other objects and advantages will be seen from the following specification and from the attached drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a portion of a sliding door viewed from the outside of the door showing the latch installed;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the latch viewed from the inside of the door;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the inner side of the outside door pull or handle;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the inner side of the inside door pull or handle;

,- smarts j Patented Ju y 1962 FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the locking cylinder, bracket, and retaining ring;

FIG. 6 is a perspective of the driving bar actuated by the locking cylinder plug;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section through the latch mechanism;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the latch'lever and retaining ring;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross section through the door frame and j-amb showing the latch mechanism in unlatched position and with the door pulls omit-ted;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section through the structure of FIG. 9 with the door stile omitted;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but with the latch mechanism in latched position;

FIG. 12 is a vertical section through the structure of PEG. 11 with the door stile omitted;

FIG. 13 is a vertical section of the latch mechanism in a plane at right angles to the plane of the door;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the various elements of the latch mechanism;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective of a sliding pocket door that incorporates the invention, and as viewed from outside the door;

FIG. 16 is a view similar toFIG. 15 but with the late viewed from inside the door;

FIG. 17 is an end elevation of the latching mechanism of FIGS. 15, 16 as viewed from inside the door;

FIG. 18 is a vertical section through the door and its associated jamb showing the latch assembly in elevation but with portions thereof in section;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary perspective from the inside of the outside door pull showing the locking cylinder secured to the door pull;

FIG. 20 is an exploded view of the inside door pull showing the latch actuating linkage attached thereto.

FIG. 21 is a horizontal cross section through the structure of FIG. 1 showing the angular relationship of the key plug and door.

The invention will first be described with reference to a patio door or the like such as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and later the invention will be described with reference to a pocket door such as shown in FIGS. 15, 16.

In detail, and with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, the invention is adapted for-use with any sliding door such as a door 7 having a vertical hollow stile 1 formed to provide a pair of opposed sides 2, 3, an outer side edge 4, and an inner side edge 5. In the example shown, inner side edge 5 is split to receive therethrough an edge of a glass panel 6 but it will be understood that the exact structure of the door is not critical.

Referring now to FIGS. 914 the door 7 cooperates with a jamb generally designated 10 which may comprise a vertical frame member 11 and a pair of spaced parallel flanges 12, 13 for receiving therebetween the vertical outer edge of the stile 1. Member 11 is adapted to receive thereon a strike plate 15 which may be secured to said member 11 by screws 15 (FIG. 14).

Integral with plate 15 is a strike element or keeper 17 which projects toward the door 7 and, when the door is closed is received within a vertically elongated opening 18 in stile 1. Keeper 17 is vertically elongated and is provided with an outer convergent strike' portion 19 (FIG. 14). Inwardly of strike portion 19 keeper 17 is reduced in cross section to provide a pair of shoulders 20, 21 which cooperate with the latch jaws, to be described, for holding the door in closed position. At this point it may be noted that the keeper 17, being vertically elongated, prevents the latch from being disengaged if the door is shifted vertically relative to the keeper. In other words, the latch may be effectively engaged with the keeper at any point along the length of the latter.

The latch housing, generally designated 24 (FIG. 10),

comprises a pair of identical housing portions 25, 26 (FIG.

14) which are assembled with the latch mechanism and which portions cooperate with said mechanism to position the various parts of the latter in their proper positions relative to each other. Each housing portion comprises a sidewall 28- provided with an integral rear flange 29 in which is provided a hole 30 adapted to receive therein a relatively small tongue 31 in the other portion. It will be seen in FIG. 14 that when the two portions 25, .26 are positioned together in opposed relationship that the tongue 31 of portion 25 may be bent into hole 30 in portion 26 and that-tongue 31 of portion 26 may be bent into hole 30 in portion to form the rear side ofthe housslotted as at 38 (FIG. 14) to provide a vertically elongated slot for receivingtherein the inner ends of a pair of latching or locking jaws 40, 41. Said jaws are identical and are installed in opposed relationship as seen in FIGS. 9, 11. Each jaw is provided with a generally planar portion 42 which terminates its inner'end in a flange 43 .adapted to be received through the slot 38 inthe housing 24. The jaws 40, 41 .pivot on each other about the juncture 44 between said planar portion 42 and flange 43' as can be seen from FIGS. 9, 11. i

The outer end'of each jaw remote from the pivot 44 is bent to provide a hook or catch portion 45 whichis adapted to fit behind the complementarily formed shoulder 20 or 21 on keeper 17 as best seen inFIG. '11.

Jaws 40, 41 are secured against shifting relative to housing 24 by means of wings or abutments 46 which are struck V 4' V I portions 45 from keeper 17 and permitting the door to be opened.

It will be seen in FIG. 12 that movement of the unlatch- 7 ing camming members 54, 55 in a direction away from the jaws 40, 41 is limited by thehousing 24.

The above described latch mechanism and housing may be secured to the outer edge 4 of the door stile 1 by means i of screws 60 which are passed through suitable openings in edge 4 andare threadedly receivedwithinannular-lips 35. A suitable faceplate 61 is preferably also secured 3 by screws 60 to the outer side of edge 4 and is provided with a central aperture 62 for receiving strike 17 there-. through (FIG. 14). V V

Referring now to FIG. 7, a pair of door pulls or handles 65, 66 are secured to the opposite sides 2, 3 respectively of stile 1 (FIGS. 1, 2) by means of bolts 67 passing through handle 66 and threadedly secured in tappedholes in handle 65 (FIG. 7). Handles 65, 66 are preferably provided with grip portions 69, 70 respectively formed integral with the vertically elongated blocks 71, 72,.which V engage stile 1. I

The handle block 71 of outer handle 65 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced bores 73,-74 either one of which is adapted to receive a conventional locking cylinder 75 therein. Said locking cylinder being shown in the lower bore 74 in FIGS. 1, 3, 7. The handle block-71 is also slotted on one side of each bore 73, 74 as indicated at 77,

78 respectively so as to receive therein the tongue portion 79 (FIG. 5 of the locking cylinder 75 that pin tumblers and springs. Y e I Adjacent the inner end of slots 77, 78 the handle block is provided-with a short bore 81 to receive therein a recontains the taining ring 80 (FIG. 5) for holding the locking. cylinout from the plane of the jaw so as to engage the inner sides of flanges 29 on housing portions 25, 26. As best seen in FIGS. 9, 11 when the jaws 40, 41 are struck by keeper 17 as the door moves to closed position the force exerted on said jaws is resisted by the engagement of wings 46 with the inner side of the housing 24.

Jaws 40, 41 are urged toward each other at all times by a torsion spring 48 which is provided with terminal jaw engaging portions 49, 50 (FIG. 14). To retain spring 48 arectangular opening 51 is formed in each jaw 40, 41 and the spring is installed therein with a torsional efiort applied thereto so that, when assembled, the end portions 49, 50 of the spring engage the oppositely outwardly facing sidesof the jaws to urge them toward each other.

i It will be noted from FIGS. 9, 11, 14 that the catch portions 45 of the latching jaws 40, 41 and the strike portion 19 of keeper 17 are complementarily formed to a cam shape so that, upon closing movement of the door, strike closing door 7 p The door is unlatched by one or the other of a pair of identical upper and lower camming members 54,55 (FIG..14). These cams are also identical and each is provided with a boss 56 for rotatably supporting the same in holes 57 in housing portions 25, 26. Each camming.

member'is formed with a camming portion 58 which is adapted to be received between the wings 46 of thejaws 40, 41 upon rotation'of the camming member. In this manner rotation of either camming member in a direction toward jaws 40, 41 causes the latter to be spread apart against the urgency of spring 48 thereby disengaging catch .17 enters between jaws 40, 41, spreads them apart against der against axial movement. To prevent shifting of the locking cylinder a bracket 82 (FIG. 5) may also be press fitted in bore 81 as best seen in FIG. 3.

The plug 76 of locking cylinder 75 is provided with a cam plate 83 having a relatively short actuating. arm 84 that is adapted to be received in anotch 85 formed in a driving bar generally designated 86 (FIG. 6). This driving bar 86 is provided with a relatively thin extension 87' of noncircular cross section that is adapted to be received within a complementarily formed hole 88 in hub portion 56 of the lower camming member 55 (FIG. 14). A washer 90 may be provided on extension 87 to position driving bar 86 'in its correct position relative to cylinder 76 so as to be actuated by arm 84 on said cam plate 83.

By the above described structure it will be seen'that rotation of lower camming member 55 may be accom plished from outside the door by means of a key inserted in the usual manner in plug 76.

A somewhat simpler unlatching means is provided on inner handle 66'wherein the block 72 of said handle, is"

formedwith a pair of vertically spaced bores 89, either one of which is adaptedto contain the boss 92 of a finger actuated lever 93 (FIG. 8). A retaining ring 91 may be employed to hold boss 92 in block 72. An extension 94 is provided on boss 92 so as to enter'the hole 88 7 formed in upper camming member 54,(FIG. '14). 7 Block 72 of handle .66'is recessed to provide an elongated slot 95 through which lever 93 extends toward the central portion of handle grip 70. Referring to FIG. 4 it will be apparent, by swinging lever 93 upwardly from the dotted to .the full line position, thatthe upper cam 54 acts to spread jaws 40, 41 apart and unlatch the door. Byprovviding an enlarged end '96 on the lever 93 manipulation of the lever 93 is' facilitated and it iseasy for one to see even from across the room, whether the door or unlatched position. Y

It will be understood, of course, that when either one of the cams 54, 55 is inserted between jaws 40,41'the door is unlatched and it is merely necessary to'pull on one of the handle grips to open the door. The opposite sides of camming members 54, 55 are planar and parallel and there is therefore no tendency for these cams to withis' in latched draw from between the jaws once they have been moved to unlatching position.

From FIG. 4 it will be apparent when one inserts his fingers within the grip portion 74} that the lever 93, if in the latched position shown in dotted lines, will interfere with the fingers gripping the grip portion 7 i) of the handle and such person will automatically swing the lever upwardly to the full line position thus unlatching the door before exerting a pull on the handle to open the door.

To give the handles a finished appearance a light decorative cover plate 97 of sheet metal or the like may be applied against the block 7-1 of handle 55 and a similar cover plate 98 may be used on handle 66 (FIGS. 1, 2).

FIG. 21 illustrates the advantage gained by forming the bore 74 that receives the locking cylinder 75 at a slight angle of about 12 relative to a plane perpendicular to door 7. It will be noted that any bafiies'provided on door frame 11 such as that shown at 14 in FIG. 21 would interfere with ones fingers while attempting to turn the key 68 if the cylinder 7 projected at a right angle from door 7. With the cylinder in the slanted position shown in FIG. 21 there is no such interference.

It will also be noted that the articulation between cam plate 83 and driving arm 86 permits movement of arm 84 axially of driving arm extension 87 without affecting the driving connection.

The invention will now be described with reference to the pocket door illustrated in FIGS. 20.

As best seen in FIGS. 15, 16, 18, the pocket door generally designated 101i is usually a solid or hollow rectangular panel provided with a notch 191 (FIG. 18) extending between the opposite sides 102, 193 of the door and opening outwardly of the sideedge 184-. it is necessary that the latching mechanism fit substantially within the confines of the door so that the door may be wholly received within a wall or the like without inter- =ference from projecting handle and the like.

By the present invention a cover plate 106 is provided on the outer side 102 of the door 195 and a cover plate 107 is provided on the inner side 1-33 of the door so as to cover notch 101. To secure said cover plates to the door 164 a pair of elongated socket members 1% with enlarged heads 1139 are passed through openings in outer plate 1%, and screws 11% are passed through inner plate 1137 into threaded engagement with members 1113 (FIG. 17

Plates 106, 107 are provided with front flanges 113, 112 respectively (FIGS. l5, 16) which are overlapped over the side edge 104 of the door 190. A face plate 114 is then mounted over flanges 1'12, 113 and secured to door 100 by means of screws 115 (FIG. 18) The latch housing 124 which is identical to that already described in detail is secured by screws 6i? (FIG. 18) to faceplate 114 so that said mechanism cooperates with the keeper 17. In this case the keeper 17 is shown secured to a jamb 116.

In the case of the pocket door of FIGS. l5, 16, it is necessary that a somewhat different actuating mechanism be employed from that described above because of the necessity of providing recesses in the door for engagement by the fingers of the user. Such recesses are provided by forming cover plate lilo with a recess generally designated 113 and forming cover plate 1117 with a recess generally designated 119. Recess 118 is produced by bulging plate 106 inwardly to provide a shoulder 12% which is gripped to close the door as seen in FIG. 15 and a shoulder 121 which is gripped to open the door. Similarly, plate 107 is bulged inwardly to produce shoulders 122, 123 (-FIG. 16) for the same purpose.

Between the shoulder 121 and the outer surface of plate 106 the latter is formed with a shelf-like portion 117 through which is received the plug 125 of a locking cylinder 126. A bracket structure generally designated 127 (FIG. 19) is rigidly attached to the inner side of plate 106 and abutting against the inner side of shoulder 12:1

to hold the locking cylinder 126 fixed relative to plate 166.

Mounted through the opposite plate 107 on a similar shelf-like portion 129 is a latch actuating lever 139 (FIGS. 16, 17) which comprises a central boss 131 and an enlarged head 13-2 sufiiciently thin to be received substantially within the confines of plate 187. As seen in FIG. 20, boss 131 is relatively short and is press-fitted within, or otherwise suitably secured to, a driving sleeve 134 which, in turn, is formed so as to be rotatably received for limited rotation on the cylindrical portion 01.126. To permit said sleeve to clear the tongue portion 165 of locking cylinder 126 a relatively large portion of the sidewall of sleeve 134 is removed, there being suflicient of sleeve 134 remaining, however, so that cylinder 126provides an effective journal on which said sleeve can rotate. By this structure shoulders 142, .143 (FIG. 20) are provided which are adapted to be engaged by a driving arm 144 on key plug 125.

Integrally formed on sleeve 134 is an upwardly extending lug 137 to which is pivotally secured one end of a link 1338 which, in turn, is connected at its other end to the outer end of a lever arm 139. Said lever arm 139-is provided with an extension 141? adapted to be received within the hole 88 in the upper carnming member 54 (FIG. 14). It will be noted in the particular structure shown in FIGS. 17-20 that the lower camming member 55 (FIG. 14) is not required since both the key actuated cylinder and the manually actuated lever are both connected to the upper camming member 54.

it will be apparent from FIGS. 17-20 that the latch mechanism may be unlatched either by turning a key in locking cylinder 126 or by turning the manually actuated lever 13%. The relationship of lever 13a to shoulder 123 (FIG. 16) is such that if said lever is in the latched position shown in dotted linm in FIG. 16 the. user will automatically swing said lever to the unlatched full line position before opening the door.

From FIGS. 18, 20 it will be apparent that suflicient lost motion is provided in the connection between sleeve 134- and cylinder 1% so that the latch maybe actuated as desired without driving arm 144 on plug offering any interference. It will also be noted that when the key plug 125 is rotated from the outer side of the door in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 18) to drive camrning member 54- upwardly to a latching position the efiect is to swing manually actuatable lever 139 to the dotted line position of FIG. 16. In this manner lever serves as an indicator to anyone inside the room showing whether the door is latched or unlatched.

To facilitate gripping the door when the same is wholly contained within a wall or within whatever recess receives it, the face plate 114 is provided with an indentation 146 adjacent its upper end and into which a person may insert his finger to pull the door toward closed position.

From the above description it is aparent that an effective latching and locking mechanism is provided by the present invention and that such mechanism may be employed in any sliding door whether it be a conventional patio door or a pocket door.

The above very detailed description of the invention and the several forms thereof should not be taken as restrictive of the invention as it is apparent that various modifications in design may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims:

We claim:

1. Latching means for a flush sliding door in which the latching mechanism and door pulls are received substantially entirely within the confines of the door comprising: a latching unit received within said door and including a latch adapted to engage a keeper on the door jarnb, door pulls on opposite sides of said mechanism, each door pull comprising a recessed plate providing a pair of vertically disposed shoulders on opposite sides of the recess of said plate and adapted to 'be'engaged by the fingers of a person for moving thedoor in oppos ite directions, said plate including a shelf-like portion ad acent the shoulder engaged to open the door, a latch unit actuating lever mounted on the shelf-like portion of one of said plates and overhanging the shoulderengaged to of said door and pivotally mounted at one" of their corresponding ends for swinging'about axes parallel to said plane of the door, spring means urging the oppositecorresponding ends of said jaws toward each other atall open the door whereby said lever is engaged by the fingers of said user when said last mentioned shoulder is engaged toopen the door. V j

j 2. A latching mechanism for a vertically disposed sliding door mounted for horizontal movement toward and away from a vertical jamb of a door frame, said mechanism comprising: a keeper on'said jamh, a latch carried by said door and comprising a housing, a pair of opposed jaws pivotally mounted on each other at one of their corresponding'ends for swinging of their opposite ends about vertical axes toward and away from each other about acommon axis inthe plane of said door, spring means urging said jaws toward each other at all times, said keeper being positioned to be received between said jaws and to spread the latter apart against the urgency of said spring meanswhen said door 'is moved to closed position, said keeper and the corresponding. opposite ends of said jaws being provided with complementarily formed shoulders and catch portions respectively for holding said door in latched position and an unlatching cam swingably mounted on a horizontal axis and moveable to a position between said jaws for spreading the latter apart atsaid opposite ends to unlatch the door, said jaws being provided with integral abutments adjacent said one end and adapted to engage said housing for transferring the load imposed on said jaws to said housing when the door is closed.

3. In a latch for a vertically disposed sliding door, a

"keeper adapted to be fixed to a door frame in the plane of said door, a latch carried by said door and adapted to be translated horizontally along a straight path of travel in the plane of the door toward and away from saidkeeper, said latch comprising a pair of vertically disposed opposed jaws on opposite sides of the central plane times, said keeper being positioned on said frame'to' be received between: said opposite correspondingends; of said jaws when said door is in latched position, an unlatching cam pivotally mounted for swinging about a horizontal axis and horizontally spaced from and between the pivoted ends and keeper ends oi said jaws, saidcam including a'wedge-like camming portion movable upon swinging of said cam in one direction to a position in engagement at its opposite sides with the opposed'sidesof said jaws and at a point intermediatesaid pivoted ends and said keeper ends for spreading saidkeeper' endsof said jaws apart to permit release of the keeper when said door is in latched position. a I

I 4. A latching mechanism according to claim 3 wherein a second unlatching cam is provided similar-to said first mentioned cam and vertically spaced therefrom, and

wherein said pair of camsareadapted to engage said jaws along the vertically spaced upper and lower margins 7 thereof. H

5. A latching mechanism according to claim 4 wherein one of said pair of cams is operatively connected with a key actuated plug for so swingingsaid one cam.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 France Oct. 23, 1928 

